Buckle.



PATENTED MAR. 12,-1907. H. J. GAISMAN.

BUCKLE APPLICATION FILED 00T.1, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

'v 8mm 3% jig/2 y] MEUMT l V PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.- H. J. GAISMAN.

' BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED ()GT.1, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 17mg] Edda/7am UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed October 1 1906. Serial No. 336,868.

To all whom it may concern.- F' Be it known that I, HENRY J. GAISMAN, acitizen of the United States, residing in New York city, borough ofManhattan, New

York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to buckles adapted to be used with straps, belts,suspenders, and similar articles, and has for its object to firmly holdthe belt, strap, or the like without the use of a tongue.

In carrying out my invention I provide the buckle-frame with springs onopposite sides, and to said springs l pivot a lever that is locatedbetween the springs and is provided with a belt-engaging member to forcethe belt against the buckle-frame, and said lever also has one or moreprojections or cams to engage the buckle-frame when the lever is swungopen to move the lever away from the frame to permit the insertion ofthe belt or strap between the lever and frame, and whereby when thelever is closed upon the belt or strap the latter will be grippedbetween said member and the frame, whereby the length of the belt,strap, or the like may be readily adjusted, while it will be firmly heldby the buckle.

Other novel details of improvement pertaining to my invention will bemore fully set forth hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming parthereof, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buckle embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a side view showing a portion of a belt or strap.Fig. 3 is a face view of Fig. 2 looking at the buckle-frame. Fig. 4 is asection on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrows. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of Fig. 3, partly in section.Fig. 6 is a central section of the buckle, showing the same open. Fig. 7is a section on the line 7 7 in Fig. 6 looking in the direction of thearrows. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 in Fig. 6 looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the springs.Fig. 10 is a face view of a modification. Fig. 11 is a section thereofon the line 11 11 in Fig. 10; and Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are perspective 1views, partly broken, hereinafter referred to.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a frame, which may be of anysuitable shape and construction, and it is provided with a spring 2 onopposite sides, between which springs a lever 3 is located, and it ispivotally .cornected with said springs near their free en s.

In the construction shown thecross-bar 1 of the frame is pressedoutwardly beyond the plane of the main part of the frame and has flanges1 bent inwardly or substantially at right angles to the frame, betweenwhich flanges the free ends of the springs 2 lie and have their motion,said flanges serving to prevent outward movement of said springs duringuse, thereby aiding to retain the lever 3 between the springs. Thesprings 2 may be secured to the frame 1 by rivets 4 and may have aconnecting-piece 2 and the springs and said piece 2 may be made in asingle piece of material to assist in keeping the springsin position byaid of the rivets 4. The springs and engaging piece 2 may havesubstantially the outline of the buckle-frame 1. If preferred, thesprings can be separated and riveted or otherwise secured to thebuckle-frame or can be struck from the material of the buckle-frame andintegral therewith, as in Figs. 10 and 11, as more fully hereinafterexplained.

The means I have shown for pivotally engaging the springs 2 with lever 3consists of pivots or gudgeons 5, which may be made integral with thesprings or attached thereto, and which pivots enter apertured ears 6,bent up from the material of lever 3.

Ihe lever 3 also has a belt-gripping member 7,1oent up from the metal ofor otherwise attached .to the lever 3 and extending substantially atright angles thereto, so as to extend toward the cross-bar 1 of thebuckleframe to grip a belt or strap therebetween when the lever 3 isclosed, as shown in Fig. 4. By having the off set ordownwardly-extending cross-bar 1 of the buckle-frame 1 the springs 2,mav normally lie sub st antially flush with the buckle-frame while thegIi adapted when the lever is swung outwardly he the back cross-bar 1 ofthe frame, and

springs out of the material of the frame, and

:shown .in Fig. 12, or the ends of the springs or :the like may besecurely held by the buckle members without the requirement of effectedby sliding it through the buckle and iof-my invention.

to bear against the cross barl' to thereby I spread the springsoutwardly and provide a space between crossbar 1 and the adjacent end oflever 3 for the ready insertion of the belt or strap 9 into or throughthe buckleframe, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 at the space indicated at 10,at which time the gripping member 7 is swung away from the cross-b ar1*. The lever 3 may pass within the openingin the frameor between thesprings 2 to .engage the same snugly and by frictional engagementtherewith assist in holding the lever closed. When the belt or strap isto be :adjustedto the buckle, the lever 3 is swung .outwardly,.and theprojections or cams 8,h ,y' bearing against the cross-bar 1", hold the:lever separatedfrom the frame and relieve the tension of'the springsfrom lever 3, so that the beltor strap may be freely slid into or.throughthe frame, and when lever 3 is swung back or closed the grippingmember 7, by bearing against the belt or strap and forcing the latteragainst cross-bar 1, relieves the projections or cams 8 from saidcross-bar, whereby the free tension of the springs is utilized inholding the gripper member 7 against theb elt or strap withoutinterference. The opposite end 9 of the belt or strap may be secured tothe lever 3 in any suitable manner, as by rivets 12.

The free endof strap 9 may pass through the central opening in thebuckle-frame and in thespace between springs 2 so as to over- .may passthence through a loop 13 on the end .9 of the :strap, which aids inkeeping the frame 1 from swinging outwardly under tension.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the springs 2 may be made integral with theside memb ers :of the buckle-frame by striking said the pivots 5 may beriveted tothe springs, as i may be coiled around said pivots, as in Fig.13, or the pivots 5 can be struck integral with the springs from themetal of the frame, if preferred, asshown in Fig. 14:.

'By means of my invention the belt, strap,

a. oustomary'tongue, and by merely swinging the frame and lever apartthe adjustment of the belt or strap for length be easily :then closingthe members together to grip the belt or strap.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in thedetails of construction without departing from the spirit Having nowdescribed my invention, what I claim is- 51. A buckle comprising a frameprovlded with springs, a lever pivotally connected l ally connectedtherewith, and means for' with said springs, and means between the leverand the frame for causing the separation or approach of the lever andframe upon the rotation of said lever.

2. A buckle comprising a frame provided with springs, and a leverpivotally connected with said springs and provided with one or moreprojections adapted to coact with the frame to cause the lever and frameto separate or approach upon the rotation of the lever with respect tothe frame.

3. A buckle comprising a frame provided with springs on opposite sides,and alever located between the springs and pivotally connected thereto,said lever having means to coact with the frame to cause the separationor approach of the lever and frame upon rotation of the lever.

4. A knuckle comprising a frame provided l'with springs on oppositesides, and a lever pivotally connected with the springs and locatedbetween the same, said lever having one or more projections to engagethe frame to cause the separation or approach of the lever and frameupon rotation of the lever.

5. A buckle comprising a frame provided with springs, a lever pivotallyconnected with the springs and provided with a gripping member, andmeans carried by the lever for causing the separation or approach of thelever and frame upon'rotation of the lever.

6. A buckle comprising a frame provided with springs having pivots, alever having bearings receiving said springs, said lever having agripping member to coact with the frame, and also provided with one ormore projections to engage the frame to causet-he separation or approachof the lever and frame upon rotation of the lever.

7. A buckle comprising a frame having a cross-bar, springs carried bysaid frame sub stantially perpendicular to the crossbar, a lever pivotedto the springs and located between the same, said lever being providedwith a gripping member to coact with said cross-bar, and also having oneor more proj ectio'ns to coact with the frame to cause the separation orapproach of the lever and frame when the lever is rotated.

8. A buckle comprising a frame provided with springs, and a leverlocated between the springs and pivotally connected therewith, saidlever having a gripping member, and also provided with projections tocoact with the frame, said projections being located at opposite ends ofthe gripping member providing a space for the passage of a belt or strapbetween said projections.

9. A buckle comprising a frame provided with an opening, a pair ofsprings having a cross-bar all made integral providing an opening alinedwith the opening of the frame, said springs being secured to said frame,a lever located between the springs and pivotbetween the springs andpivotally connected therewith, said lever having a gripping member tocoact with the cross-bar.

HENRY J. GAISMAN.

causing the separation or approach of the lever and frame upon rotationof the lever. i

10. A frame provided at one side with an offset cross-bar, springscarried by the frame substantially perpendicular to said cross-bar, IWitnesses: said frame having flanges extending along SIMON WEIL, theedges of said springs, and a lever located i T. F. BOU'RNE.

